LINCOLN, Neb. -- The No. 9-ranked University of Michigan softball team suffered its first Big Ten Conference loss of the season, falling, 6-1, at No. 20 Nebraska today (Friday, April 26) at Bowlin Stadium. The Wolverines had won 16 Big Ten games in a row and 22 in the conference dating back to 2012. The loss is also Michigan's first March 14 -- a span of 22 consecutive victories.

Nebraska started the scoring with a leadoff home run in the second inning and then added another run before the frame ended. The Huskers then scored once in both the third and fourth innings and added to the 4-0 lead with another pair in the fifth on a two-run home run.

Down 6-0, sophomore catcher Lauren Sweet(Corona, Calif./Santiago) got one back for the Wolverines in bottom of the sixth. Following two walks earlier in the game in which she did not see a strike, Sweet worked a 3-0 advantage in her third plate appearance. After fouling off a few pitches, she smacked a home run to dead centerfield.

Sophomore pitcher Sara Driesenga(Hudsonville, Mich./Hudsonville) started for the Wolverines and tossed 2.1 innings, yielding three runs on three hits. She was relieved by sophomore Haylie Wagner(Orange, Calif./El Modeno), who pitched the final 3.2 frames and was touched for three runs on five hits. Driesenga took the loss, dropping her record to 23-6.

U-M put a pair of runners on in four separate innings and walked nine times in all.

The Maize and Blue continue the series with Nebraska tomorrow (Saturday, April 27). First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. CDT and the game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.